. >>> former republican senator chuck hagel is expected to be sworn in as the next secretary of defense today. only four republicans voted for hagel. >>> and for the first time, the obama administration is reportedly considering providing direct assistance to elements of the syrian opposition. secretary of state john kerry is in france today. a decision on this shift in u.s. policy is expected tomorrow when kerry attends a conference on syria in rome. kerry has been consulting with european leaders. u.s. officials say the administration is considering sending tens of millions of dollars in nonlethal assistance to the rebels fighting the assad regime. >>> the latest blast of winter weather making its way toward the great lakes. the latest storm dumped essentially inches of snow across the plains. it's being blamed for at least three deaths and has knocked out power to more than 100,000 homes and businesses. teresa garcia reports. >> reporter: a major winter storm is dumping a layer of heavy wet snow on parts of the country still struggling from the last round. plows tried to keep up in k